BTC
-0.42%
63,450.00
USD
▼
MXN ≈ 1,082,145
bbc.co.uk
Spotify to add label for AI-generated artists and remove them from recommendations
The new feature, starting from mid-September, will tell listeners if an artist is AI-generated.
cnbc.com
AI’s costly build-out complicates the Fed’s inflation fight
Tech leaders say AI will drive down costs. But slow corporate adoption and the data center build-out create inflation pressures that complicate the Fed’s job.
theguardian.com
Canadian airline WestJet agrees to settle flight attendants’ sexual harassment class action
Female staff alleged company failed to maintain safe workplace, after allegations of sexual assault against pilotThe Canadian airline WestJet has agreed to pay C$4.5m (£2.4m) to settle a decade-long sexual harassment class action lawsuit levelled by its female flight attendants, who alleged the company failed to maintain a safe workplace.The suit followed allegations by Mandalena Lewis, a former flight attendant, that a pilot had sexually assaulted her and a colleague, but that WestJet kept the pilot flying, thereby putting other employees at risk. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Josh Kushner and Bob Iger reportedly buying Los Angeles Lakers for $12bn
Mark Walter bought team last year for $10bnIger and Kushner aim to ‘compete at the highest level’Josh Kushner and Bob Iger are purchasing the Los Angeles Lakers for more than $12bn in a record-breaking deal, ESPN reported on Wednesday, citing sources with knowledge of the deal.Billionaire Mark Walter purchased a majority stake of the NBA team last year from the Buss family in a deal that valued the club at $10bn, with the deal only having been approved by the board of governors in October. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Consumer prices rose 0.1% in July, as expected, putting the annual rate at 3.4%
The consumer price index was expected to increase 0.1% in July, with an annual rate of 3.4%.
bbc.co.uk
Burnham warned Iran war could hit UK growth next year
The conflict in the Middle East has pushed up oil and fuel prices, and also disrupted supply chains.
cnbc.com
CoreWeave surges 18% after a 'cleaner quarter.' Here's what's happening
AI cloud giant CoreWeave jumped in premarket trading after reporting that its second-quarter revenue doubled on surging AI demand from hyperscalers.
bbc.co.uk
US inflation eases as food and fuel costs cool
Annual US inflation dipped to 3.4% in July, with food costs slowing and housing keeping prices slightly higher.
cnbc.com
India’s inflation accelerates to 4.45% in July, raising hopes of a rate hike later this year
India's inflation rises for the ninth month in a row, raising the odds in favor of a rate hike later this year.
cnbc.com
Google’s new Pixel 11 puts Gemini at center of AI phone battle with Apple
Google is launching the Pixel 11 lineup weeks before Apple rolls out a rebuilt Siri powered by Gemini AI models.
cnbc.com
Solar eclipse drives Europe hotel prices to over $1,000 a night
Eclipse demand pushed some Spain and Iceland stays above $1,000 a night, while Iceland hotels cut prices sharply closer to Aug. 12.
cnbc.com
Chinese tech giant Tencent sees spending surge, defends potential 'superior' AI returns
Tencent stock was down 26% so far in 2026 as the company faces intense competition in China in AI and investors grow jittery about its rising spending.
cnbc.com
China’s answer to Boeing and Airbus makes first international flight — could COMAC challenge the aviation duopoly?
China’s C919 has made its first scheduled international commercial flight, a milestone in COMAC’s bid to challenge Boeing and Airbus globally.
bbc.co.uk
Bakery buys comedian's former sites after closure
Bakery business Janes Pantry confirms its plans to reopen at least 20 of the Coughlans shops.
theguardian.com
US inflation cooled slightly to 3.4% in July but prices still elevated
Energy is cheaper than at its peak in late April, but gas is still nearly $1 a gallon more expensive than before the Iran warUS consumer prices cooled slightly in July as the annualized inflation rate dipped down to 3.4%, though prices still remain higher than levels seen before the war with Iran.Though inflation decreased 0.7% in June during a brief ceasefire between the US and Iran that brought energy prices down, consumer prices have remained elevated. Price increases hit a three-year high in May, with annual inflation reaching 4.2%. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Houthi attack kills six in first fatalities in Red Sea in over a year; U.S. strikes container ship
A cargoship and containership have been hit in the Red Sea and Gulf of Oman as the war inflicts a toll on the world's critical shipping lanes.
theguardian.com
Panama canal fees soar due to Iran war and El Niño as ship ‘pays $4m to jump queue’
Falling water levels linked to weather system are expected to limit number of slots to transit shipping laneCommercial ships travelling through the Panama canal are facing a rise in costs amid disruption triggered by the Iran war and falling water levels linked to this year’s intense El Niño weather system.Highlighting the fragility of global trade, a container ship reportedly paid about $4m (£3m) to jump a queue of vessels waiting to pass through the vital maritime choke point. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
'Tougher times ahead': Don't expect blowout returns to continue, CEO of $2.3 trillion fund warns after record first half
Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the largest of its kind, is an investor in around 1.5% of the world's listed companies.
theguardian.com
Live facial recognition cameras to be used on UK’s busiest shopping street
Sadiq Khan has indicated the technology will be deployed on London’s Oxford Street despite human rights concernsThe Metropolitan police are understood to be planning to use live facial recognition (LFR) technology on Britain’s busiest shopping street.In June, the Met said it would introduce the technology in London’s West End by Christmas and into a further six areas next year. Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, has indicated that the newly pedestrianised Oxford Street will be included. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
New York City Council announces probe into prediction market platforms’ marketing strategies
In letters to four prediction market platforms, City Council Speaker Julie Menin said the council was also actively considering legislation to address concerns.
cnbc.com
Hong's defeat in Wisconsin deals blow to rising Democratic socialists
Progressive Democrats keep their winning streak rolling in Minnesota.
cnbc.com
Scorching heat is straining Europe's nuclear power supplies — and prompting drastic measures
Heat and drought are curbing nuclear output across Europe, with Romania facing a possible reactor shutdown and France reducing generation.
theguardian.com
British driver sets new land speed record for hydrogen-powered car – video
The British engineering company JCB and the driver Andy Green have set a new world land speed record for a hydrogen-powered vehicle of 406.320mph with their JCB Hydromax. The attempt comes 20 years after Green drove JCB's Dieselmax car to a FIA-certified diesel land speed record of 350.092mph. Green also holds the outright world land speed record of 763.035mph, which he achieved in 1997, becoming the first and still only person to break the sound barrier on land Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Heat, algae and AI: proposed datacenter could damage Everglades, experts warn
Plans for hyperscale datacenter in Palm Beach county prompt concerns over water and electricity demandsAbout 16 miles (26km) west of the Mar-a-Lago estate on President Donald J Trump Highway, near the northern edge of the Florida Everglades, developers have proposed a hyperscale datacenter on a 202-acre (82-hectare) parcel of land surrounded by water. Local environmentalists warn that the proposed 600MW datacenter in western Palm Beach county could damage the wetlands, which the federal government and the state of Florida have spent a combined $6bn to restore after decades of drainage and development.One concern is that the datacenter could exacerbate an existing issue of toxic bacterial blooms in a water system which has already been stressed by drought, fertilizer runoff and warm water temperatures. In recent summers, the bright blooms of blue-green algae have covered nearly half of Lake Okeechobee, which feeds into the Everglades. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Hormuz closure squeezes global economy as oil demand destruction intensifies, IEA says
The IEA expects oil demand to fall by 1.6 million barrels a day in 2026 as high fuel prices and Strait of Hormuz disruptions weigh on consumption.
theguardian.com
Iran war and high living costs fuelling last-minute holiday bookings, Tui says
Middle East conflict has cost Europe’s largest travel firm €60m so far, and timing of decisions over trips has shiftedHolidaymakers are waiting until the last minute to book their trips because of the continuing uncertainty caused by the war in Iran and the cost of living crisis, according to Tui, Europe’s largest travel company, which said the war had cost it €60m (£51m) so far.In the weeks after the outbreak of the war at the end of February, Tui recorded a temporary drop-off in customers wanting to travel to Cyprus or Turkey, in what the company called a “volatile market”. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Number of children injured in e-scooter crashes in England surges
Calls for speed limiters or mandated helmet use after research into injuries at three paediatric trauma centres The number of children involved in crashes on e-scooters has soared in recent years, with some as young as nine involved in collisions, research has found.Researchers carried out a review of injuries among the under-16s at three specialist paediatric trauma centres – Alder Hey in Liverpool, and Sheffield and Royal Manchester children’s hospitals – between January 2019 and December 2024. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
AI was supposed to destroy jobs. Where’s the carnage?
The AI jobs apocalypse never showed up. Still, jobs are changing and economists expect more to come.The prediction was stark: artificial intelligence advancements would wipe out jobs en masse. “Half” of all entry-level white collar jobs would vanish, Anthropic’s CEO, Dario Amodei, said in May 2025. A month later, OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, went further, foreseeing the end of “certain job categories”. Companies began citing AI in their layoffs. Workers organized. And students reconsidered their future careers.But a year later, the mass carnage hasn’t shown up. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
If the markets reject OpenAI and Anthropic, the US should nationalize them | Bruce Schneier and Nathan E Sanders
From space to telecommunications, the US has a long history of fostering technology for the public good. These AI models could be aligned to democratic values, not corporate profitsOpenAI, and then Anthropic, were each formed by AI developers who feared unrestrained corporate AI development – specifically, that companies like Google and Meta would steer the technology towards deleterious, maybe even catastrophically unsafe, outcomes for society. Their founders proclaimed that their new labs, uniquely, could be trusted to develop the technology in humanity’s best interest. But each, in turn, were themselves co-opted by the same market incentives, themselves becoming corporate behemoths zealously guarding future investor value rather than the public interest.It was only a few weeks ago, in June, when OpenAI and Anthropic each filed for their IPOs and were met with buzz about trillion-dollar valuations. The hype around their valuations is so extreme that many worry about their potential for concentrating wealth on a global scale. In an effort to leave something for the rest of us, some observers have proposed that the federal government seize a share of these companies’ stock to create a US sovereign wealth fund, or redistribute their revenues to produce a dividend for taxpayers. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Just 20 of 6,600 Defra staff working on climate adaptation amid drought and wildfires
Exclusive: England ‘desperately unprepared’ for effects of crisis including water shortages and heatwavesUK heatwave live – latest updatesJust 20 staff are working on climate adaptation within a key government department tasked with protecting the environment and maintaining food security, a freedom of information request has revealed.The officials make up 0.3% of staff within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Great Britain faces electricity supply shortfall during solar eclipse
Event expected to hit solar power just as fifth heatwave of summer increases use of air conditioning and fansGreat Britain faces a shortfall of electricity supplies on Wednesday evening as the near-total solar eclipse is expected to wipe out solar power generation.The government’s electricity grid operator has raised an official alarm that it expects there will not be adequate power generation as the moon blocks up to 95% of the sun over parts of the country, the most dramatic solar eclipse visible in Great Britain since 1999. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Jaguar Land Rover owner Tata Group's chairman to step down
Chandrasekaran said he would not seek reappointment when his term ends due to a lack of support from the Tata Sons board.
cnbc.com
World's largest sovereign wealth fund posts record $184 billion profit as it reveals SpaceX stake for the first time
The fund — currently valued at around $2.34 trillion — is an investor in more than 7,000 companies across 60 countries.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Chips, ships and a sliding yen
After having sold Wall Street on the chips powering the artificial intelligence boom, Nvidia wants Wall Street to help bankroll the buildout itself.
theguardian.com
Millions of US tax dollars sent to rightwing European thinktanks. Did any Trump supporters vote for that? | Arwa Mahdawi
It’s a great betrayal: poor communities neglected while multimillionaires peddle a global Maga agenda. How is that America first?“THE CORRUPTION IS AT LEVELS RARELY SEEN BEFORE,” Donald Trump posted on Truth Social in February 2025. He was not referring to his own administration, but to the US Agency for International Development (USAID). “CLOSE IT DOWN!” the president added.Just a few hours later USAID was in effect closed down, with most of the staff placed on indefinite administration leave. This was framed as part of Trump’s “America first” agenda. USAID, the Trump administration and his sycophants in the rightwing media had argued, was wasting taxpayers’ hard-earned money on ridiculous projects abroad instead of improving life at home. In the lead-up to the shuttering of USAID, for example, one of the most shameless lies about the agency, repeated without any evidence by the likes of Fox News, was that it was spending millions on condoms for Gaza.Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Homes near pylons to get £250 a year off energy bills – first sites revealed
Households living within 1,600ft of upgraded pylons will get £250 a year off their electricity bills.
cnbc.com
Why the historic U.S.-Japan intervention has failed to halt the yen’s slide
The Japanese yen has erased about half of the gains from an unprecedented U.S.-Japan intervention less than two weeks ago.
cnbc.com
Hello Kitty, goodbye stock gains: Sanrio shares plunge 18% following earnings
Sanrio shares fall following earnings results
theguardian.com
‘It’s been a revelation’: how heat pumps can cool your home in a heatwave
It might seem an unlikely way to stop overheating, but many owners have found the tech a lifeline in hot weather“If it is 35C outdoors, I can get the temperature down to 21C,” says Andrew Ingram of the sanctuary that his living room has provided this summer.“On the nights I’ve slept in there, you have to put your thick pyjamas on,” jokes Ingram, who lives in Maidenhead, Berkshire, with his wife, Sue. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Eerie silence and ‘still surviving’: what happened next after steel town’s last blast furnace shut down
Exhibition in Port Talbot is part of project exploring how communities experience endings and transitionsMargaret Heggett, 95, does not remember a time when Port Talbot was ever quiet. Born and raised in the shadow of the steelworks, with a father, brother and husband who worked there, she never imagined what the town could look or sound like without its blast furnaces.“I’m not saying it was beautiful, but there were jobs. We did know the closure was coming and we have to move with the times but it’s affected the town a lot and it’s very sad,” she said. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Aviva’s remarkable revival leaves one big question: What next?
Aviva shares are up around 150% since Amanda Blanc become CEO. Before long, investors will be asking: what next?
bbc.co.uk
Young islanders concerned about their future
The Medical Officer Health Report shows 36% of young people are certain they will leave the island.
bbc.co.uk
How affordable are Edinburgh's festivals?
The city is no stranger to complaints about soaring prices during August - but are costs on the rise?
theguardian.com
All-British chocolate bar made by scientists using Reading-grown cocoa
Master’s student made first bar with 100% UK ingredients since 1932 to highlight effect of climate crisis on cocoa plantsThe late queen was the only person in history to have ever eaten a chocolate bar made with 100% British ingredients, after she was given one as a six-year-old in 1932 by the confectioner Rowntree’s.The bar was created from a glasshouse-grown cocoa plant, at Rowntree’s headquarters in York. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Google’s new AI boss inherits a race to catch OpenAI and Anthropic
Koray Kavukcuoglu is taking charge of Google DeepMind as it tries to keep Gemini competitive with OpenAI and Anthropic.
bbc.co.uk
PM admits cost of living help is not enough and hints at further support
The PM has announced a rake of measures to help people since taking office three weeks ago.
theguardian.com
UK heatwaves may have cost economy £4.4bn in lost output so far this year, analysis finds
Verdant thinktank says cost could top £25bn a year by 2030 and calls for maximum temperature for working and urban redesign to cool down citiesRepeated debilitating heatwaves this summer are likely to have cost the UK economy more than £4bn in lost economic output by the end of July, new analysis shows.Green thinktank Verdant had suggested June’s unseasonally hot weather had an economic cost of £2.36bn. Updating its assessment to include last month’s high temperatures, it finds a £4.4bn hit to output. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
AI agents' 'alarming' hacking skills creates rush to spend on cybersecurity
AI agents' 'alarming' hacking skills creates a rush to spend on cybersecurity
theguardian.com
Passenger jet billed as China’s answer to Boeing and Airbus prepares to make first international flight
The Comac C919 will fly from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, although experts say it could take generations for it to challenge the west’s dominance of the industryChina hopes to break into the world of commercial aviation with the first international flight of a Chinese-made passenger jet scheduled for Wednesday.The Comac C919 will take off from Beijing capital international airport at 3pm, landing in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, just over two hours later. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
EVs dominate China’s car market: 5 takeaways from the country's latest auto sales data
The China Passenger Car Association released data Tuesday showing penetration of new energy vehicles rose in July. Tesla's Model Y remained popular.
bbc.co.uk
Tokenomics: Why making AI pay is tricky
Buyers of AI services are struggling to control costs and sellers are not sure how much to charge.
theguardian.com
Households near new pylons to get £250 taken off annual energy bills
Discounts confirmed near more than 40 locations across Great Britain amid biggest upgrade to electricity grid since 1960sHouseholds living near new power pylons will have £250 a year taken off their energy bills as the UK government prepares to push ahead with more than 40 grid upgrade projects across the country.The government has promised hundreds of thousands of homes living within 500 metres of new grid infrastructure a saving of up to £2,500 on their energy bills over 10 years in return for “hosting vital infrastructure” which will help the UK transition away from fossil fuels. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Sun-tanned cauliflowers and knobbly spuds - the heatwave veg that's good to eat
British shoppers should expect to see more wonky vegetables due to repeated heatwaves.
cnbc.com
Why Jensen Huang’s $500 billion AI financing plan faces a big risk from China
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is pitching GPUs as long-term collateral to unlock $500 billion in funding. The question is how fast will his chips depreciate?
bbc.co.uk
Tributes to co-founder of John Pye auction house
A statement issued by the firm said "John lived a fantastic life full of laughter and hard work".
cnbc.com
Is betting on elections using prediction markets illegal? Many states are unsure as midterms approach
Twenty-three states have laws banning betting on elections, according to Pew Research. Not every state is sure these rules apply to prediction market trades.
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on AI money in US politics: not the way to hold an urgent democratic debate | Editorial
Amid public concern over the impact of new technology, Silicon Valley’s use of its wealth to influence specific election races is an unwelcome developmentAs the huge societal ramifications of artificial intelligence have become clear, some of the tech industry’s most senior figures have taken to writing thinkpieces on what comes next. The latest to do so is Mark Zuckerberg, who this week published 6,500 words making the case for a laissez-faire approach to AI development. Worrying too much about regulation, Meta’s CEO unsurprisingly opines, could lead to the United States falling behind in the race to own the future.Mr Zuckerberg’s plea for maximum autonomy is, of course, self-serving. Much of his essay – which airily envisions “invention superpowers” for every entrepreneur and “an abundance of jobs in the future” – reads like unadulterated tech-utopianism. But the lobbying at least has the merit of being out there in the open. As midterm elections loom in the US, darker arts are also being used to counter popular concern about what AI will mean for a host of topics, from the labour market to child safety, the environment and cybersecurity. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Will Andy Burnham’s everyday fixes be enough to get the public on his side?
The prime minister’s money-saving policies are popular but they are yet to convince voters he can take on the big thingsIt was last year that Martin Lewis, the money-saving guru, advised the government to find “100 small things that piss people off” and set about sorting them out.That approach has been adopted almost immediately by Andy Burnham since entering office, as he began his programme of “everyday fixes” to tackle problems that can be dealt with through minor policy tweaks. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
To all the betting shops littering our high streets: people power is coming and the odds are against you | Dawn Butler
Too many shops are blighting too many communities. With the rule change I fought for now on the horizon, ordinary people can fight back How much gambling do you want in your high street? Are you happy with all the betting shops, the problems they cause, the effect on your environment?It’s worth asking because for years, local councils have been expected to say yes to new gambling venues, even when communities made clear they did not want them. Now, under new rules announced on Monday, that’s about to change. And about time.Dawn Butler is the Labour MP for Brent EastDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Droughts were predicted decades ago – yet water companies did nothing | Letter
Water boards in the south of England should have paid attention to scientific models and built reservoirs, writes Steve Lindsay, while Martin Gray suggests turning salt water into drinking water is the answerIn 1998, I travelled to London for the release of the Meteorological Office’s first forecasts of the impact of climate change on the UK. I was encouraged to see in the audience many representatives from water companies from the south of England. The Met Office modelling showed that “For summer, there is a general tendency for drying in the south of the UK” and “Warming over the UK will be more rapid in the south-east”.Today, representatives of the southern water boards appear to be surprised that we are experiencing a drought in the south of England (Three-quarters of England in drought as summer’s fifth heatwave looms, 10 August). They should have paid more attention to the science and started the planning and building of reservoirs 28 years ago instead of putting their profits into the pockets of their shareholders.Steve LindsayEmeritus professor of public health entomology, Durham University Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Eclipse chasers scramble for glasses as stocks run low
Specialist glasses are all but sold out online ahead of the UK's most significant eclipse since 1999.
theguardian.com
Why the US government is banning Chinese robots – video explainer
The Federal Communications Commission on 28 July announced a ban on humanoid robots from China including the popular Unitree G1 model. The Guardian's technology journalist Nick Robins-Early explains the recent popularity of these trending robots and why the US government says they are a risk to the country's national security Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Watch: U's fans told house prices put players off
At a fans' forum, the director of football reveals high property costs are a "big challenge".
cnbc.com
Manus to return as independent company after China forced Meta to unwind $2 billion deal
Last December, Meta said it planned to acquire Manus for $2 billion, its latest effort to shore up its AI strategy.
bbc.co.uk
Councils to get more powers to stop vape and betting shops, PM announces
Prime Minister Andy Burnham says town centres have been "hollowed out" by decades of decline.
cnbc.com
Pakistan signals progress on U.S.-Iran deal as Washington and Tehran trade reparation demands
Washington and Tehran remain far apart even as both sides talked of winding down regional hostilities.
bbc.co.uk
France bans unsolicited telemarketing calls
Cold calling is coming to an end in France, with one consumer group calling the ban a "small revolution".
cnbc.com
Wall Street just endorsed Jensen Huang's 'big concept' for AI. What now?
The first three-plus years of the AI build-out have been funded by record amounts of equity and debt issued by leading tech companies. Nvidia has a new idea.
theguardian.com
Axe stamp duty? How Andy Burnham could change property tax
The new PM could bring in revenue for social care or defence with a land levy or by reforming council taxResidential property is the largest store of wealth in the UK, and has long been a target for those who believe homes should be taxed more. Real estate remains a juicy plum for Andy Burnham to pick as he searches for ways to pay for an overhaul of the social care system and higher defence spending, to name just two fiscal priorities. Yet how to tax property, or possibly the land it sits on, has vexed economists and politicians for centuries. Here we discuss the background to the debate and some of the tax options.• This article was amended on 11 August 2026. An earlier version said home occupiers in France must pay the taxe d’habitation; in fact, since 2023 this only applies to second homes. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
AI agent hacks gym to get its user a spot in pilates class
The incident is being seen as the latest example of the AI tools going to any lengths to complete their tasks.
theguardian.com
The US tried to stop cartel money-laundering. It devastated mom-and-pop businesses instead
Small businesses pay hidden toll after money-transfer rule change to curb illicit activities near the US-Mexico borderLast April, the Trump administration rolled out its latest tool in the fight against Mexican cartels: an aggressive crackdown on money transfers near the US-Mexico border.The administration said that, in an effort to stop money laundering and other illicit activity, it would now require any business providing financial services in the region to report cash transactions over $200. Previously, the amount had been $10,000. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Drought, water rationing and dry rivers: our water crisis is here | Peter Gleick
It doesn’t have to be this way. We know what needs to be doneDisturbing news about our water resources is now constant and unrelenting. In just the past few weeks, media have reported that Puerto Rico is suffering a deep water crisis as severe drought has cut water supplies to thousands. The Rhine and Po rivers in Europe are at record low levels. The seven states sharing the Colorado River in the US are fighting over unprecedented shortages, while its major reservoirs have shrunk to their lowest levels since they were built.Hungary’s only nuclear power plant is on the verge of shutting down because there isn’t enough water in the Danube River to cool it. Toxic chemicals have been found in all English water bodies. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
FIFA World Cup 'will never be as profitable' if Infantino is ousted, Trump warns amid global soccer revolt
President Gianni Infantino pushed FIFA's commercialization drive, which culminated in the largest, most profitable World Cup on record
bbc.co.uk
Mars Bar from 1991 found – and it's 56% bigger than today's
The woman who found the chocolate bar during a house clearance compares it with today's Mars Bars.
theguardian.com
‘A horrible nightmare’: the shocking story of the eBay harassment scandal
Jaw-dropping documentary Whatever It Takes details an aggressive stalking campaign targeted towards a couple whose reporting criticized the tech companyWhen Massachusetts husband-and-wife team Ina and David Steiner launched their reporting careers covering Silicon Valley at the turn of the century, the tech beat was still cozy enough to feel personal. The startups were still emerging from garages, and the journalists covering them were often filing stories from their own kitchen tables. Ebay was still a young online auction company founded on the principle that “people are basically good”.As digital retail took off, the Steiners launched an e-zine called EcommerceBytes, catering to a growing community of small business owners who were increasingly using platforms like eBay to sell their wares. “We talked about this being an opportunity for just average people, disabled people, elderly people to make extra income,” says David of a community that has grown alongside EcommerceBytes, which now has more than 600,000 readers. “We were really excited about that.” Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
The Global Story
Are we entering the Chinese Century, or is the Chinese Dream already fading for some?
bbc.co.uk
'I paid £400 for a Prada bag on Vinted - only to find it was fake'
A woman who paid £400 for a Prada handbag on Vinted later discovered it was a fake.
bbc.co.uk
Wall Street giants hand Nvidia $500bn to fund boom in AI projects
The money will be used to develop new data centres to house, operate, and cool miles of stacked computer chips that process AI data and actions.
bbc.co.uk
More than 10 firms pay up to $100,000 a month for fast access to Truth Social posts
Trump Media expects the controversial service, which launched this month, to provide a new revenue stream, as it posts a quarterly loss.
bbc.co.uk
London Heathrow no longer Europe's busiest airport
Istanbul overtakes Heathrow whose passenger numbers on Middle East routes fell 20.2% year-on-year.
theguardian.com
Car hire firm told me I was a ‘no-show’ so I lost £185
I was delayed, but I had prepaid through Holiday Autos and had provided my flight number as requestedI booked a car hire at Heathrow through Holiday Autos on a visit to the UK and provided my flight number as requested.My flight was severely delayed, and when I reached the car hire desk, I was told I’d been marked down as a “no-show” and that my car had been rehired. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
School uniform rules must go further, charity says
A Coventry charity opens a uniform bank as the government sets limits on logoed items for pupils.
bbc.co.uk
Families under pressure to find food in summer
Parents are struggling to feed children in the school holidays, with more families using food banks.
theguardian.com
They cannot even flush their toilets: life in east London blocks where taps often run dry
Devons Road estate residents describe months-long ordeal of not being able to wash, clean or cook for much of the dayHundreds in London flats left without regular running water since last yearChristmas Day in east London. Beatrice Asante empties a bag of potatoes into her kitchen sink and turns on the tap. Nothing. She turns it off and on again. Still nothing. What now?Asante rushes out to the only shop that is open, the local Nisa convenience store. She buys several big plastic bottles of water. Enough, she thinks, to make dinner and to last until the taps start running again. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Why did Saudi Arabia just spend billions on a video games company? – podcast
Last week Saudi Arabia’s wealth fund and a group of investors spent $55bn (£41bn) on Electronic Arts, the video games company behind the Sims, Madden NFL and Battlefield. Keith Stuart and George Osborn tell Annie Kelly why this soft-power move is worrying many in the industrySaudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, loves a video game. That might explain why Saudi Arabia has borrowed billions to buy Electronic Arts. And that’s just the latest in a long list of ways the Middle Eastern powerhouse has invested in esports.But why would such a powerful government take a risk with video games? As Keith Stuart and George Osborn tell Annie Kelly, it’s part of a pattern of superpowers and authoritarian regimes seeing games as handy propaganda tools. And this is why critics are worried about countries such as Saudi Arabia having ready access to billions of players around the world Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
'I started in my 20s and made £8,000': Why women are often better investors than men
Women can make higher returns but only about a quarter of UK women have investments, compared with about 40% of men.
bbc.co.uk
Business Daily
Europe's biggest business district in Paris is turning vacant office space into housing
bbc.co.uk
Jeff Bezos and Liverpool explained
BBC Sport's Sam Harris breaks down the potential new investment of Jeff Bezos into Liverpool.
bbc.co.uk
Taylor Farms recalls jalapeno products after salmonella outbreak
Food producer Taylor Farms is recalling sandwiches, sauces and dips across 26 US states after a salmonella outbreak.
bbc.co.uk
Thames Water gave finance boss a £1m signing-on fee
The seven-figure payment was given to Steve Buck as part of package to persuade him to join the troubled utility company.
bbc.co.uk
Water outage forces Chessington theme park to close
Chessington says all tickets booked for Monday can be used on a future date.
theguardian.com
‘It’s very challenging’: how the Duke of Westminster’s farm is taking on the climate crisis
Amid world pressure from heatwaves and fertiliser shortages, billionaire’s business has invested in circular farming and biomethaneThere is a distinctive smell of cow manure in the air at the Duke of Westminster’s dairy farm near Chester. It is a world away from the collection of grand West End properties controlled by the duke that form the backbone of his near £10bn fortune, a decade on from becoming Britain’s youngest billionaire.As part of his 349-year-old Grosvenor empire, Lea Manor Farm on the duke’s Eaton Estate in north-west England has fared better than most dairy farms in recent years. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Consortium advances talks for stake in Liverpool
A group including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos advances its talks to buy about a 30% stake in Liverpool, BBC Sport has been told.
cnbc.com
Meta to open source its most powerful AI model as it takes swipe at OpenAI, Anthropic
Meta launched Muse Glimmer and plans to release Muse Spark 1.2 weights as Zuckerberg pushes for U.S. leadership in open AI.
bbc.co.uk
Ban on 'subscription traps' brought forward by three months
The prime minister is embarking on a UK tour with a series of announcements aimed at easing living costs.
cnbc.com
Myspace eyes comeback as an 'antidote' to social media fatigue — but it may be a long shot
"Excitement about Myspace's relaunch reflects nostalgia for a more analog time, when algorithms were less dominant in our lives," an analyst told CNBC.
theguardian.com
Hastings Direct’s failures forced my family out of our home
A leak beneath our fridge-freezer last winter caused extensive damage but there’s still no functioning kitchenEight months after reporting a leak to our home insurer, Hastings Direct, my husband and I and our two-year-old are still effectively homeless.Last winter, we discovered that an unnoticed leak beneath our fitted fridge-freezer had caused extensive damage to the floorboards of our kitchen/living room. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
'You could smell someone' who worked at Raleigh
The company was more than just a employer. For years, it was part of the fabric of Nottingham.
bbc.co.uk
Tech leaders say AI means less work - their staff say they work up to 90 hours a week
Tech companies are not modelling their own claims of the technology giving people more free time.
theguardian.com
The gen Z investors – podcast
Are gen Z the most financially savvy generation of them all? With senior economics correspondent Richard Partington and influencer James BeckettJames Beckett, known as Money Stocker, is in his mid-30s and has investments worth £350,000.The social media influencer talks to Nosheen Iqbal about how he got into the world of finance and his aim to be “financially free” by 45. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
You could be missing out on £150 off your energy bill - here's how to check
Some people need to ensure they are named on their energy bill before the deadline to qualify for help.
theguardian.com
Cut £175 from energy bills for low-income homes, says thinktank
Resolution Foundation proposes £2bn emergency scheme to help people facing higher costs this winterLabour should draw up an emergency plan to cut energy prices for low-income families by up to £175 this winter, the Resolution Foundation has said.One of Andy Burnham’s first policy announcements as prime minister was to remove VAT temporarily from electricity bills, saving households about £45 a year. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Like being in prison’: the ship crews stuck in Gulf since February
US-Iran war has stranded up to 20,000 seafarers, mostly Indian and Filipino crews, with none knowing when the nightmare will endThe panicked crew of a cargo ship broadcast a distress signal late on Monday night from their location in the strait of Hormuz. About 20 nautical miles north of the coast of Oman, the Minoan Pioneer bulk carrier was hit by an unknown projectile, causing a blackout in the engine room and a fire in the accommodation area.The crew scrambled to put out the blaze and called for help from nearby vessels. When they managed to disembark from the Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged ship on Tuesday morning, they realised the third engineer was missing. Days later, he is yet to be found. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Watch The Odyssey for free online’: scam targets film fans with fake streaming sites
Those tempted to access fake websites run risk of phishing scams and having computer infected with malwareThe Odyssey is the hottest release this summer and you have been looking forward to seeing the much-acclaimed adaptation of Homer’s epic ancient Greek poem. But you have been unable to go to the cinema, so when you spot an ad to watch online, you jump at the chance.There are positive reviews posted on the site so you decide to sign up. Although it asks for your bank details – which is unusual for a “free” trial – you are so eager to watch the blockbuster you input your details. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Google DeepMind enters a new era as co-founder Demis Hassabis shifts AI role
Observers express concern that the division has lost its independence and commercial reality has taken overWhen Sir Demis Hassabis said AI had brought the world to a “pivotal moment in human history” last month, he knew another big change was imminent.This shift was closer to home. The Nobel prize-winning head of Google DeepMind, Google’s AI unit, announced this week he was relinquishing his day-to-day duties as chief executive and becoming chair. He is also taking on the role of chief scientist at DeepMind’s parent, Alphabet. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Can Harvey Nichols find its way back to being Absolutely Fabulous again?
Mike Ashley says it’s in a ‘death spiral’ but a refocus on design could be what the department store needsSuch was the buzz around Harvey Nichols in its 90s heyday that the department store was regularly name-checked in Absolutely Fabulous, with Edina and Patsy’s frequent retail therapy trips to the store reflecting its position at the heart of the fashion industry at the time.How times change. These days Harvey Nichols is a business in trouble, one that has not turned a profit since the pandemic. Pre-tax losses were £35.3m in 2024. The retail chain – comprising the the original store in Knightsbridge, London, plus stores in cities including Bristol, Leeds and Manchester – was put up for sale in June by its current owner, Sir Dickson Poon, with Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group and Next bidding to take control. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
What do people want from Argos?
As Sainsbury agrees to sell Argos for £120m, we ask people if they still shop there, and what the new owners can do to compete with big online retailers like Amazon.
bbc.co.uk
Why airlines are warning over lithium-ion batteries
The airline industry wants passengers to be careful when travelling with lithium ion batteries.
bbc.co.uk
Argos is getting a makeover - but can it attract new shoppers?
The retailer has been around for 50 years but struggled to compete with newer rivals such as Amazon. Can its new owners turn it around?
bbc.co.uk
Business Daily
Why is global trade proving so resilient despite the tariffs and trade restrictions?
bbc.co.uk
First OpenAI, now Meta - why do AI hacks keep happening?
A flood of companies are revealing AI models gained access to the internet - with real consequences.
bbc.co.uk
Shorts, strappy tops and sandals: What is acceptable to wear to work?
Here's how to style for success while keeping your cool - and where you and your boss stand on your wardrobe.
bbc.co.uk
How tech is helping in the battle against wildfires
Tech is being used to watch for wildfires but firefighters are still needed to put them out.
bbc.co.uk
The cost of being single – and how friends are teaming up to beat it
Many singles face extra costs for housing, bills, food and holidays but there are ways to ease the burden.
bbc.co.uk
'I feel like I dug my own grave': The workers caught in the AI transition
AI is reshaping the Philippines' outsourcing industry, raising questions over the future of the industry.
bbc.co.uk
Why the UK is dithering over what to do about e-scooters
Why is it taking so long for the government to regulate them, and what are the consequences of delay?
theguardian.com
AI and artists can click – a new manifesto for modern creativity
The UK is both an epicentre of global creative industries and a budding AI powerhouse. Here’s how it can balance support for creatives while also embracing technological changesWhat does it mean to be a creator in today’s modern world when artificial intelligence is reshaping relationships between humans and technology?That’s one critical question the UK creative industry has been asking itself as AI rips up traditional conventions on copyright, ownership, effort, and originality. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Why Gen Z are planning for life without a state pension
Many younger people do not believe the state pension will exist when they are older
bbc.co.uk
The furious dispute over what caused Air India flight 171 to crash
The final conclusions of the investigation have yet to be published, although more could become apparent in the coming days.
bbc.co.uk
How the High Street became a window on our political instability
High Streets have declined in recent years. What does this tell us about the UK?
bbc.co.uk
The £5 coffee that tells a story of global economic turmoil
Coffees at some city centre outlets now cost £5. It's a story of tariffs, the climate, Gen Z cultural tastes, and savvy coffee farmers playing the market, writes Faisal Islam
💬 Comments